Somalia, AU forces seize key area from Al Shabaab

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MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali National Army (SNA) forces and African Union  troops have launched joint military operation against targets held by Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab.

The coalition forces captured Gaywarow, a key area for Al Shabaab, where is believed that the group’s fighters launch from attacks against military bases in south of Somalia, according to a military official, Mohamed Hussein.

Hussein says the allied forces clashed with number of militants armed with AK-47s, grenades and machine-guns during the operation near Qoryoley town.

It remains unknown if any soldier or group’s fighter killed in the skirmish.

The Al Qaeda inspired group of Al Shabaab did not comment on latest claims made by Somali military over Qoryoley fighting.

The Al-Shabab has been waging an insurgency in Somalia for more than 10 years.

A 22,000-strong African Union force is in the country to help the government fight the al-Qaeda-linked militants.

The group has been driven out of many urban areas since 2011, however it still controls territory in rural areas and carries out gun attacks and bombings on military and civilian targets.